The two swimmers who drowned Thursday in Lake Superior at Duluth's Park Point were identified Friday as a Wisconsin man and his 10-year-old daughter.
2 swimmers die despite intense rescue effort at Duluth's Park Point
A firefighter was being evaluated after he took in a large amount of water in the crashing surf.
August 12, 2017 at 3:00AM
Ryan Paul Fuglie, 38, of Osceola, Wis., and his daughter, Lily Elizabeth Fuglie of Hudson, Wis., died despite an intense rescue effort in high surf.
First responders were called just before 4:30 p.m. Thursday after the two "disappeared in the waves" of Lake Superior for several minutes, according to a news release from the Duluth Fire Department.
A rescue boat was launched, but "rescue efforts were hampered by five- to seven-foot waves near the shoreline," the news release said.
Authorities found Lily in the water at 5:22 p.m. Her father was found at 6:02 p.m. CPR was administered, but the two had no pulse, authorities said. They were rushed to a hospital, where they were pronounced dead, according to the Duluth News Tribune.
A Duluth firefighter was injured when he took in a large amount of water during the rescue effort. He was taken to the hospital for evaluation.
Five boats from various agencies assisted in the effort, which included the Coast Guard, the St. Louis County rescue squad, police and Gold Cross ambulance.
Park Point is a high-risk swimming area due to dangerous waves and currents along the shore.
"Swimming conditions may be life-threatening to anyone entering the water," the National Weather Service said on the Park Point Beach website.
A rip current warning had been issued early Thursday that remains in effect till Friday. During such red-flag conditions, signs and flags are posted along Park Point, and the public beaches are closed.
Staff writer Karen Zamora contributed to this report.
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